Brain Rules for Presenters

One of the best books I have read this year is Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School. The applications for presentation are many. This is a book review of sorts, though I do not highlight all aspects of the book. I focus on the three rules that relate most directly, though all the rules have lessons. Just a fantastic book.

4.
“ Brain Rules is one of the
most informative, engaging,
and useful books of our
time. Required reading for
every educator and every
business person. My
”
favorite book of 2008!
— Garr Reynolds
Presentation Zen

9.
And (2) allow m
y remarkable c
shape to remind oloring and
you that you hu
wired to notice mans are
differences an
d patterns...

10.
brain remind
ny, primitive
And (3) let my ti st use out o
f
o
I get the m
yo u that, while , my friend,
I know), you
my bra in (as far as e volved brain
ur massive,
could lea rn to use yo
ffectively...
much more e

11.
brain remind
ny, primitive
And (3) let my ti st use out o
f
o
I get the m
yo u that, while , my friend,
I know), you
my bra in (as far as e volved brain
ur massive,
could lea rn to use yo
ffectively...
much more e
Right, on with the
preso...

88.
Structure your presentation
around meaning, and the big
picture. Then support key ideas
with details.

89.
“ If you want to get the particulars
correct, donʼt start with the details.
Start with the key ideas and, in
hierarchical fashion, form the details
”
around these larger notions.
— Dr. John Medina
Good advi
ce, but ho
pay attent w long can
ion to you people
r talk?

111.
“ Why is vision such a big
deal to us? Perhaps
because it’s how we’ve
always apprehended major
threats, food supplies and
”
reproductive opportunity.
— Dr. John Medina

112.
“ Why is vision such a big
deal to us? Perhaps
because it’s how we’ve
always apprehended major
threats, food supplies and
”
reproductive opportunity.
— Dr. John Medina
Can I eat it? Will it eat
me? Can I mate with it?
Will it mate with me? H
ave I seen it before?

120.
Rule #1
Exercise boosts brain power.
eview✓ Our brains were built for walking/moving!
R
✓ To improve your thinking skills, move!
✓ Exercise gets blood to the brain, bringing
it glucose and oxygen.
✓ Aerobic exercise 2x/week halves the risk
of general dementia, reduces risk of
Alzheimer’s by 60%.
✓ Exercise is just about the best thing you
can do for yourself says Dr. Medina.

121.
Rule #4
We don’t pay attention to boring things.
iew✓ No multitasking. When it comes to
ev attention, it’s only one thing at a time.
R
✓ We are better at seeing patterns,
abstracting meaning than recording details.
✓ Tapping people’s emotions helps them learn.
✓ People start to fade after 10 minutes. Get
them back by telling stories, examples, and
targeting their emotions.

122.
Rule #10
Vision trumps all other senses.
iew
ev ✓ Vision is our dominant sense, using half of
R the brain’s resources.
✓We learn/remember best through pictures
compared to text or spoken words.
✓Try to communicate more with pictures.
✓Toss your current PowerPoint slides.

123.
Question: or the
3 rules mean f
What do these ? And f or the
of presentation neral?
world and sch ool in ge
world o f work
All 12 rules at a glance

129.
These slides were produced by Garr Reynolds
in his home in Osaka Japan. Software used
was Apple’s Keynote (but PowerPoint would’ve
done the trick as well) and a bit of Photoshop.
Domo Arigatou
Checkout
the
PZ website
!
GARR
REYN
ww.present ationzen.com
OLDS
w